Delaware’s General Assembly is poised to consider a new bill that would explicitly ban law enforcement officers from using chokeholds.
The latest bill from the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus’ Justice for All agenda seeks to make aggravated strangulation a Class C or Class D federal crime in Delaware code.
It would prohibit law enforcement from using techniques intended to restrict a person’s breathing, or constrict blood flow by applying pressure or force to the jugular.
State Rep. Nnamdi Chukwoucha (D-Wilmington) is sponsoring the bill along with state Sen. Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman (D-Wilmington).
“It’s a safety measure,” said Chukwoucha. “We’ve all seen the horrible video or George Floyd and his murder. We’re just ensuring that those type of things—we don’t want them to happen here.”
Chukwoucha also notes the techniques are already illegal.
“Officers aren’t trained to use those techniques in the state of Delaware, so this further adds emphasis to that,” he said. “It is an illegal move.”
Gov. John Carney is also planning an executive order to ban chokeholds in the State and Capitol police departments.
And the Dover Police Department announced policy changes Thursday meant to increase police accountability.
Chukwoucha’s bill will be considered by the House Administration Committee in a special hearing on Monday—along with a proposed amendment to Delaware’s constitution to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin. The amendment passed the state Senate unanimously Tuesday.
